Baba
Food & grades of sadhakas
Namaskar,
From time to time the question arises in the mind, what should one do when sentient food is not available; i.e. how far and when should one compromise with Ananda Marga food rules. Ananda Marga is the path of bliss. Those traveling on the path of bliss are called Ananda Margiis. And the ultimate destination is bliss. Some are new on the path, and others have progressed and are near their final destination.
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Three grades of Ananda Margiis from worst to best
Beginners on the path of bliss come directly from the general society and may have difficulty following the do’s and don’ts of Sixteen Points etc. So amongst Ananda Margiis there are three grades of sadhakas: pashvacariis [C-grade], viiracariis [B-grade], and divyacariis [A-grade]. Yet all are margiis. Those lowest grade sadhakas (pashvacariis) may be eating all kinds of tamasik things and trying to give up those old habits, while top margiis (viiracariis) are very strict. Those who are very strict are sadvipras. That is one of the qualities of sadvipras.
The below teachings from Sadguru Baba gives insight into how top-grade sadhakas conduct themselves. They will not ingest tamasik food even in times of crisis when sentient food is not accessible.
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Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, "Before killing birds and animals for food, you must think a hundred times whether you can stay alive without killing them." (1)
Ananda Marga ideology states, "Suppose a physician says, “As a human, you require animal protein for your health;” but suppose dharma says, “No, a human should not take carnal food;” then in that case you will have to follow dharma and not the physician, because the order of dharma is above all other orders. Dharma is the highest Lord, the highest authority." (2)
Many people eat sentient food when in their home, but when they go out and travel then they are not strict. These half-baked sadhakas are comprised of some margiis and some Wts, unfortunately. First, they are not strict when on the train or plane or when staying outside the house. And secondly, they internally justify that they are doing objective adjustment. So watch out - they are not top-grade margiis.
Top grade sadhakas & their food
Here below is an English summary of the Guru’s address at DMC 27 June 1980 Saharsa.
Great sadhakas are not lazy or loose in following Ananda Marga conduct rules. They are determined and proclaim that, "I will never eat tamasik food. And as far as possible I will not eat rajasik food either. I will only eat sentient food. According to Guru's direction I will practice sadhana, and I will be very fanatical in adhering to Sixteen Points. Even if my life is in danger, I will not deviate or be slack in following these rules." This is the mindset of a top grade sadhaka, i.e. divyacarii sadhaka. (English summary, DMC 27 June 1980 Saharsa)
Moreover, these days if someone is planning to go to the North Pole, then they can easily bring their food with them. Indeed, in today's world there is virtually no situation in which sattvika / sentient food is not available or cannot be arranged.
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According to the Supreme Command, from Purodha Pramukha to avadhutas to brahmarcariis to senior margiis to newly initiated people - all are Ananda Margiis. So this above letter is relevant and related to one and all.
Namaskar,
in Him,
Krpasindhu
In the Senior Acarya Diary, it is stated that top grade sadhakas will not wish to compromise on the point of food. And verily our scripture confirms that A-grade sadhakas will prefer not to compromise. Whereas, the lowest grade sadhakas quickly compromise on points of food.
How beef became onion
Ananda Marga ideology states, “By gradual transformation their mind-stuff reaches a stage where they cannot be called human beings. Who can say that the fire-burnt cane has been transformed into the plantain tree, and the decomposed beef has been transformed into onion through natural changes, and that the rice-water has produced tańd́uleraka leaves? Likewise, no one will be able to recognize you as a human being in your degenerated condition.” (3)
Seniority is meaningless if...
There should not be any confusion about the gradation of margiis - pashvacaraii (animal), viiracarii (mediocre), divyacarii (divine). This has nothing do with length of time on the path. Time is not the determining factor; rather it is solely based on how sincerely and strictly one adheres to Guru's guidelines. By this way you can see who is in which group. Ananda Margiis do not carry gradation ID cards. It is only by their conduct and dealing that you can see who is in which category, i.e. pashvacaraii (animal), viiracarii (mediocre), divyacarii (divine). A thirty-year margii might still be eating meat and drinking wine so he is in the animal group. While a newly initiated person may be quite strict in taking a sattvika diet - and never compromises on food rules. So this newly initiated sadhaka is a top-grade margii, i.e. divyacarii.
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References
1. Ananda Marga Caryácarya Part 2, Miscellaneous, Point #2
2. Subhasita Samgraha - 21, Jaeva Dharma and Bhágavata Dharma
3. Subhasita Samgraha - 1, Spiritual Practice and the Cosmic Science
* * *
The below section is an entirely different topic, unrelated to the above material.
It stands on its own merit as a point of interest and ideological awareness.
* * *
== Section 2: Important Teaching ==
Ananda Marga ideology states, "The stamina to stand vibrations differs in different people. Hence various degrees of happiness or sorrow are experienced by different people, and these differences depend on their respective mental constitutions. The subtle causes of these different mental constitutions are their acquired samskáras or reactive momenta, and the crude causes are their nerve cells, nerve tissues, glandular secretions, etc. The sudden vibrational impact on the body and mind makes the mind react violently, resulting in the cessation of the cardiac functions. This also explains the death of a person struck by lightning. The sudden contact of the eyes with an extremely dazzling radiance often results in the total impairment of vision. If we look directly at the brilliant sun for a few moments, our visual power becomes temporarily stunned and we cannot see anything for some time. Similarly, when some very high pitched or loud sound strikes the eardrum, the power of hearing may be destroyed. The sensitivity of every organ may be suspended by the impact of any violent vibration; this stupefaction, if the intensity of the vibrational impact is very great, may even become permanent. Yet sometimes powerful vibrations may help stimulate and restore the power of organs which have not been functioning for years. You must have heard of a person who had been blind or deaf and dumb since his childhood, regaining the lost power of his impaired organs in his latter years either by stroke of lightning or by being suddenly informed of an extremely happy or sad news." (1)
Reference
1. Subhasita Samgraha - 3, Vibration, Form and Colour
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Selfish help, not real duty
Ananda Marga ideology states, “Bear in mind that you have a duty towards others, but that no one has any duty towards you. Everyone’s individual duty is fixed. Only one who moves forward with this as his or her only thought can do proper service. Otherwise the thought may remain in the mind of the one doing service that I have done such and such work for that person, so that person ought to do such and such for me. The thought must remain in the mind of the one doing service that I have a duty towards others but no one has any duty towards me.” (1)
Note: In the various religions it is taught, “If you do A then you will get bonus B.” That return (i.e. bonus B) may be in the form of virtue, praise, or respect or help in your hour of need etc. So they do in order to get something in return. In our Ananda Marga outlook, the standard is very high. One is to serve others and see them as narayan, not anticipating anything in return from narayan. When one feeds a hungry person, then that act of service is itself the prize. There is nothing else, no other return.
Motivated by religious dogmatic teachings, the mind of selfish people works in a different way. Such lowly persons think that, "Others have the duty to take care of my situation and their own situation as well. But they should not bother me about their own problems." This is the way such selfish persons think.
And if for some reason that selfish person "helps" others then they want full return plus interest of their so-called service. There is no question of a sense of duty and true service; these ideals have no place in their mind. Because of all this, the present day general society's condition is unfavourable and bleak. All around where materialism and religious dogma has taken root, this is prevalent.
Sadguru Baba's teaching leads in a different direction. In His above teaching, Baba is very beautifully guiding that our duty is to serve everybody without any expectation for anything in return.
Reference
1. Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 9, The Source of Internal Stamina, 3 April 1979, Patna
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Why materialists lost to religious priests
Ananda Marga ideology states, “On deeper analysis we find that the Charvaka and other schools of materialistic philosophy propagated certain doctrines which were more a revolt against the prevailing religions than an expression of a rational and benevolent outlook. They protested loudly against the clergy or religious traders who composed the so-called scriptures in the name of dharma (in fact it was not dharma, but religion); who took advantage of the fear psychosis, in the name of god, to ruthlessly exploit society. The Charvaka and other materialistic philosophies were motivated to strike against religious exploiters. They were fully aware of the way the vested interests exploited society, and they knew that nobody had the right to deprive others of their properties, since every thing of this earth is the common patrimony of all, yet they did not endeavour to lead humans along the path of rationality or formulate a healthy social and spiritual ideology.” (1)
Ananda Marga ideology states, “The reason for this was that they lacked convincing arguments to stand against the sharp intellect of the vested interests [religious exploiters]. Thus, they merely attempted to negate the fundamental tenets of the vested interests [religious exploiters], often with rather abusive language. Due to the weakness of their argumentation it was easy for the vested interests [religious exploiters] to emerge and gain strength in the subsequent period.” (2)
References
1. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 7, In Adoration of the Supreme
2. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 7, In Adoration of the Supreme
== Section 3: Links ==
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